Package making machine



Ju1 4, 1933'.- 1 N. KRAFT 1,916,515

. PACKAGE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed May 11, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4, N, KRAFT PACKAGE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed May 11, 1929 5 She ets-Sheet '2 fzwezz fif Afar/720:2 .Kra i July 4, 1933. N. KRAFT PACKAGE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed May 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I I l '1 ll July 4, 1933. N KRAFT 1,916,515

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July 4, N KRAFT PACKAGE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed May 11, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L @724 Wh .closing the same after the Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PACKAGE MAKING MACHINE Original application filed Kay 11, 1929, Serial No. 362,162. Divided and this application filed Kay 26,

1930. Serial 1ng application, Serial No..362,162,of which this application is a division.

The main objects of my present invention are to provide a machine for automatically closing filled receptacles embodying the features of my aforesaid copending application to provide such an automatic mechanism which is simple in construction, durable and not likely to get out of working order, and in general, it is the object of my invention to provide an improved machine of the type referred to.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated my improved form of package and mechanism for ackage is filled with the desired food stu or other similarly perishable material.-

Tn the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2- and 3 are prospective views of my improved package showing successive steps in the closing thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan of a blank of sheet'material which forms a lining in my improved package. a

Fig. 5 is a plan of a machine part for closing packages embodying my invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of apart of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 showing certain parts in a changed position from that shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail'section corresponding to part of Fig.7 but showing the parts in the position shown in Figs.'5 and 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail section corresponding topart of Fig. 7 but showing the parts in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 5-; and

59 Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are sections on the 1, 2 and 3, my improved package comprises an outer receptacle 15 formed of-a suitable grade of pasteboard or the like, the same being folded and fastened in any approved manner toform a substantially rectangular outer receptacle including end flaps 16 and 17 and a top flap member 18, the latter being provided with a lip 19 which is adapted to be tucked inside of the front side wall 20 of the receptacle. The outer receptacle 15 is vided with a liner, preferably of impervious sheet material such as tin foil, which is provided in blank form as shown in Fig. 4.

The blanks, as shown in Fig. 4, comprise I substantially rectangular main body portions 21 which are adapted to be folded into receptacles fitting inside of the outer containers 15 'so as to line the bottom and side walls of the latter. The rectangular main body portion 21 is folded principally along the broken lines shown in Fig. 4, so as to form a bottom liner portion 22, front and back wall liner portions 23 and 24 respectively, and end Wall liner portions 25 and 26. The corner portions 27 may conveniently be rounded as shown, and these parts are folded over the respective end portions 25 and 26 in a well known manneras an incident to the formation of the rectangular rece tacle of the main body part 21 of the blank s eet of lining material. i Y 1 The receptacle thus formed of lining material, is open at the top. For closing the open top of the receptacle, I provide front and rear wall flaps 28 and 29 resepctively, and end wall flaps 30- and 31 respectively, which flaps project or extend from and beyond the edges of the main body part of the lining sheet blank.

These flaps are adapted to be folded over sitions shown in Fig. 1. The flap parts of the lining sheet will also project upwardly from the respective walls of the lining material receptacle, the back wall flap 29 and end wall flaps 30 and 31 being substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The front wall flap 28 would initially extend upwardly in substantially the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The lined receptacle is thus completely formed-except that the top thereof is not closed. 1

I have found it convenient to assoc iate the receptacle forming mechanism with suitable conveyors for receiving and conveying the empty receptacles into register with a discharge spout or the like of a hopper or other material supply container from which discharge'spout the empty receptacles may be filled with food stuff or other material which it is desired-to package. My improved package has been found to be exceptionally well suited to the packaging of such food stuffs as cheese or cheese products, which are apt to deteriorate when exposed to the air.

After the lined receptacle is filled with the desired material, the package may be closed, by first bending or folding the front wall flap 28 inwardly over the top of the contents of the package substantially to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The length of the flap 28, is preferably somewhat greater than the corresponding dimension across the top of the package so that a marginal portion 28a of the front flap. 28 will be folded upwardly adjacent the rear wall flap 29, as clearly shown in fulllines in Figs. 1 and 2. The end wall flaps 16 and 17 of the outer receptacle may then be folded inwardly over the top of the contents of the receptacle, i. e. over the flap 28 of the liner, the end wall iia s 30 and 31 of the liner being incidentally olded inwardly over marginal end portions of the top of the receptacle contents as shown in Fig. 2. After the flaps 16 and 17 are so folded, the top member 18 of the outer receptacle may be folded to complete the closing of the receptacle, the flap portions28a and 29 of the liner being incidentally folded over the marginal side portions 'of the top of the package contents.

For facilitating the formation of a substantially impervious inner enclosure for the package contents, I cut away the end flaps 16 and 17 of the outer receptacle as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the flap portions 28a and 29 of the liner may be folded to closed position in direct contact with the upper surface of the flap parts 28 30 and 31. It being understood that the materialfrom which the inner or linin receptacle is formed, is of comparatively t in and flexible material, it will be seen that the above described flap arrangement will effectively seal the top of the inner receptacle so that the contents of the package are protected from the deteriorating effects of the air. It

is, of course, noted that there are no parts of the outer, pasteboard receptacle 15 interposed between the fiap parts of the lining material receptacle, and that air leaks, which often are present in the usual package structure due to such interposed parts, are not apt to be found in packages made according to the present invention.

I In the present instance, I have shown mechanism for closing my improved receptacles after the same have been filled with material such as cheese or'the like, the latter being discharged while in more or less liquid form, into the receptacles. It will be understood that where cheese is discharged into the receptacles, the liquid will begin to set upon cooling thereof. Accordingly, provide mechanism for folding the respective top flaps after the package contents have had sufficient time to at least partially set, so that the said contents will be firm enough to maintain the side walls of the receptacle lining distended, that is, in contact with the sides of the outer receptacle.

In most receptacle filling machines of the general character indicated above, there is a conveyor of suitable form for advancing the receptacles past the discharge outlet. In

Figs. 5 and 6, the delivery or discharge end of such a conveyor is indicated at 32, a pulley .33 being provided for supporting the end of the conveyor and a pulley 34 being provided for supporting an intermediate portion of the lower reach thereof. The pulleys 33 and34 are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in suitable frame parts of the machine, and the conveyor belt 32 may be actuated by any suitable mechanism, one form of which will hereinafter be referred to.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the receptacles are positioned end to end in a row on the conveyor 32. For effecting certain flap closing operations by means of mechanism shown in the patent toPeters et al. No. 1,577,850 it is desirable to continue the forward movement of the filled receptacles step by step-in spaced relation as shown in the said Figs. 5 and 6. Accordingly, I provide a receiving conveyor 35, preferably in the form of a sprocket chain passing around sprockets such as shown at 36, the chain being provided with pushers or flights 37. The flights 37 are spaced apart so as to be adapted to receive and advance the receptacles in spaced relation substantially as shown.

The conveyor 35 is intermittently actuated to receive the filled receptacles one by one and to advance the same in spaced relation with sufiicient rapidity to enable the conveyor 35 to receive all of the receptacles dischargedcles sidewisefrom the feeding conveyor 32 to the receiving conveyor 35.

The said mechanism for moving the receptacles sidewise from the feeding conveyor to the receiving conveyor includes the said plunger 38 which is carried by the upper end of an arm 39, the latter being pivotally mounted as shown at 40 on a bracket 41 which is secured to a conveniently accessible frame part such as a leg 42. The arm 39 is adapted to be rocked or oscillated about its pivot 40 by means of a rotating cam 43 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 44 .and connected to a gear 45 so as to rotate with the latter. The shaft 44.is mounted in suitable bearings, one of which may be formed integral withthe bracket 41, as shown in Fig. 7.

The gear 45 and incidentally the cam 43, is continuously rotated through the agency of a gear 46 which is mounted on a shaft 47,

the latter, for the purpose of this applica: tion, being considered the main drive shaft. The main drive shaft 47 may be rotated in any approved manner, not herein shown, so that rotation is imparted to the cam 43 which acts on a roller 48 carried by an arm 49 which is formed inte ml with the arm 39 (see Fig. 7). A sprmg 43a, stretched be.-

tween the arm 39 and a pin carried by a conveniently v accessible, stationary part of the machine, serves to urge the arm to move inwardly and thereby keeps the roller 48 in cooperative engagement with the cam 43. The cam 43 is shaped substantially as shown in Fi 6 so that rotation thereof will effect oscil ation of the arm 39, in properly timed relation the step by. step movement of the receiving conve or 35, to enable the head 38 to move the fil ed receptacles sidewise from the conveyor 32 to the conveyor 35 immediately in front of one of the flights 37.

A gear 46a also carried by the main drive shaft 47, meshes with a gear 50 which is secured to a shaft 51, the latter being journalled in suitable bearings provided in the main frame. of-the machine. A sprocket 52 is mounted on the shaft 51 and a chain 53 engaging the said sprocket and also a sprocket 54 on the shaft 55 serves to continuously rotate the said shaft 55. B an inspection of Fig. 6 it will be seen that the conveyor pulley 33 is carried by theshaft 55 and hence that the feedingconveyor 32 is continuously propelled. The conveyor 35 may be intermittently actuated by suitable mechanism of the conveyor 32 as will be readily understood by an inspection of Fig. 5. The head 38 is operative immediately in front of the abutment 58 to move the filled packages from the conveyor 32 to the conveyor 35. The speed of travelof the conveyor 32 is so proportioned to the speed of travel of the conveyor 35 that the latter will be operative to receive the filled rece tacles substantially as fast as they are fed orward by the conveyor 32, but it will be noted that when the forward end of the advancing row of receptacles on the conveyor 32 engages the abutment 58, there will be a certain amount of slippage between the conveyor 32 and the bottoms of the receptacles temporarily held stationary by the abutment 58 .before the head 38 is actuated to feed the foremost receptacle from the conveyor 32 to the conveyor 35.

The width-of the head 38 is substantially the same as the length of the receptacles so that when the head is moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, the receptacles remaining on the conveyor 32 will be maintained stationary due to abutting the adjacent end of the said head. Whenthe head is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 7,

the receptacles may again be advanced till the forward end of the foremostreceptacle engages the abutment 58.

Durin the time in which the row of receptacles is%ield stationary on the conveyor 32 by the head 38, folding of the front wall flap 28 of the receptacle liner is effected b means of devices actuated as an incident to t e oscillation of the arm 38. An initial or preliminary folding operation is effected by means of a folding member or pusher 59 which is adjustably secured to a bracket 60 which is secured to another bracket 61, the latter being secured to the upper end of the arm 39 top of the package as an incident to the move ment of the arm 39. A subsequent or fold completing o eration is performed by means of a pivoted olding member 62 which is pivotally mounted in any suitable manner such as indicated at 63. The folder 62 is rocked or oscillated by means of an adjustable link 64 which is connected at one end to an arm 65 which is secured to the shaft 63 (which also carries the folder 62) and the other end of the link 64 is connected to the u er end of the bracket 61, as. best shown in igs. 6 and 7. It will be seen that when the arm 39 is rocked to actuate the head or plunger 38, that the folding devices 59 and 62 will be incidentall flap folding operation by means. of the pivoted folder 62, which is shown in its extreme the hooks towards each other.

folding position in Fig. 9. It will be apparent from an examination of the said Fig. 9 that the folder 62 serves to press the front flap 28 down tightly on the top of the package contents and incidentally to smooth the top of the said contents. The marginal flap portion 28a is also forced to lie closely adjacent the rear flap portion 29 substantially as shown. g

I have found it desirable to provide means for holding the top member 18 of the outer receptacle and the liner flap part 28a in slightly outwardly ofi'set position so as to facilitate operation of the pivoted folder 62. Such means includes a vertically reciprocable inverted hook member 66 which is formed on the upper end of a bar 67, the latter being pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 68, to a cross head 69 carried by a rod 70 which is slidably mounted in a suitable bearing 71 formed integral with or otherwise secured to a part of the main frame of the machine. It will be noted that in the drawings I have shown a double hook arrangement. Only one of the hooks operates on the packages carried by the feeding belt 32, and the other hook 72 being adapted to operate on packages carried by another belt indicated in broken lines in Fig. 7.

The mechanism herein illustrated constitutes part of a double unit machine, that is to say, there are two package filling and closing units associated together so as to be actuated by the same actuating mechanism. The operation of the two units being substantially the same, it is necessary to describe the operation of only one of the units.

The rod 70 is reciprocated by means of a rotating cam 73 which is carried by the shaft 55, the said cam serving to rock a lever 74 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as indicated at 75, and which is connected by means of a link 76 to the rod 70 substantially as shown in F1 10. The hook members 66 and 72 are oli set with respect to the bar parts 67 and 77 respectively and are maintained in spaced relation by means of a cam block 78 when the saidv hooks are in their upward position of adjustment.

The cam block 78 is fixedly mounted on a frame part 79, as shown in Fig. 10, so that when the rod 70 is lowered, inclined por-' tions 80 and 81 of the hooks will ride over the opposite faces of the cam 78 which is so shaped that a spring 82 is permitted to pull It Will be seen that the spring 82 is thus operative to pull the hook 66 inwardy towards the center of the machine so as to bend the top member 18 and the flap part 28a of the receptacle to an offset position, such as shown in Fig. 9. It will, of course, be understood that before the lateral inward movement of the hook is effected, the same is lowered into a position inside of and overlapping a pa'rt'of the top member 18 and flap part 280.

The cam 73 is so shaped and proportioned that the hook members are held in upward negative position While the receptacles are being advanced on the conveyor 32. The operative movements of the hooks occur when the packages are in a stationary position and While the foremost package is being moved .sidewise from the feed conveyor 32 to the receiving conve or 35. v 7

After the lled packages are delivered on the intermittently actuated conveyor 35, further flap folding operations are performed to fold the end flaps 16 and 17 and the top member 18 of the receptacle to closed position, the liner flaps 30, 31, 29 and 28a being folded incidentally to the folding of said outer receptacle flaps. The mechanism for effecting the final closing operations is substantially the same as that shown in theabove mentionedPeters patent, and also the same as part of the mechanism shown in the patent to Peters et al., No. 860,764, and hence for the purposeof this application, I will describe the same onl brie y.

The first olding o eration performed on the packages carried y the chain 35, is that of folding the end. flaps 16 and 17. These flaps are folded by means of pivotally mounted folding plates 83 and 84, which are carried by rods 85 and 86 respectively, the same being rocked in any suitable manner. A comparatively thinplate' 87 is provided for protecting the top of the package during the folding of the said end flaps, the said plate being moved inwardly. over the top of the package before the end flap foldingopera tion is completed. The folding members 83, 84 and 87 are mounted so as to be adjustable from operative position, as shown in Fig. 5, to an outwardlydisposed position relative to the path of the packages so as to permit the latter to be moved to the end flap folding position without bending or otherwise interfering with the said end flaps which are then in an upwardly projecting position.

After the end flap folding operation is completed, the package is moved through mechanisin for folding the top member and tucking the marginal portion 19 thereof between the front wall 20 of the outer receptacle .and the adjacent portion of the lining sheet. The

first part of the top folding and tucking opthrough a subsequent folder 92 which acts in the nature of a. cam to guide the forward end 93 of the flap part 19 into position between the front wall 20 of the receptacle and the adjacent part of the lining sheet, the said member 92 serving to gradually insert the said flap part 19 between the wall 20 and lining sheet during the advancement of the package under the said folder. In other words, the folder 92 serves to start the flap part 19 into position between the front wall 20 of the receptacle and the adjacent part of the lining sheet. The final folding operation is performed by means of a pivoted member 94 which is actuated by means of a .vertically.reciprocable member 95 through the agency of a spring connection 96. The parts in Fig. 13 are shown in the position in which they appear immediately prior to the completion of the top flap folding operation.

I am aware that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts in both the package and in the mechanism for making the-same which I have above described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim is my invention:

1. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided'with end flaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps extending from each wallof the liner, the combination of a reciprocable pusher for effecting partial folding of one of said liner flaps, a pivoted folder for subsequently substantially completing the folding of said flap over and operative to press the flap against and to smooth the top of the contents of the package, means for folding the end flaps of the outer receptacle over the top of said contents and thereby incidentally folding the corresponding flaps Y of said liner, and means for subsequently folding the top member of said outer receptacle and the corresponding liner flap over the top of said contents to close said package. 2. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided withflaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advane ing said packages step by step, a reciprocable pusher for effecting partial folding of the front wall flap of said liner, a pivoted folder operative during a period of rest of said package to substantially complete the folding of said flap over, to press the flap against and to smooth the top of the contents of the package, means for folding the end flaps of said outer receptacle and the corresponding flaps of said liner over the top of the contents, and

means for folding the top member of said outer rece tacle and the corresponding liner flap over the top of said contents, thereby to close said package.

3. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advancing said package step by step, means operable during a period of rest of said package for effecting partial folding of the front flap of said liner, means operable during a subsequent period of rest of said acka e for sub stantially completing the fol ing 0 said flap over the contents of the package, means for holdingthe top member of said outer receptacle in predetermined position to faciliytate said fold completing operation, means subsequently operable to fold the end flaps and top member of said outer receptacle over the top of said contents thereby incidentally folding the corresponding flaps of said liner over the top of said contents to form a substantially impervious inner enclosure for said contents. a

4:. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outsaid receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advancing a plurality of saidpackages in a row step by step, simultaneously operative means for efi'ecting partial folding of the front flap of said liner of one package and substantially completing the folding of the front flap of the liner of another package, and means for folding the end flaps and top member of said outer receptacle and the corresponding flaps of said liner over the top of said contents to close the package and incidentally to form a substantially impervious inner enclosure for said contents.

5. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advancing step by step, a plurality of said packages arran edin'a row, means for effecting partial fol ing of the front wall flap of the liner of one of said ackages, means for simultaneously substantially completing the folding of said front flap on another package, said last mentioned means comprising a pivoted folder and means for oscillating said folder in synchronism with the step by step substantially impervious inner enclosure for said contents. v I

. 6. In a machine for closing filled ackages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advancing a plurality of said, packages in a row step by step, means for simultaneously effecting partial folding of the front flap of said liner ofone package and substantially completing the folding of the front flap of the liner of another package, means for holding said top member in predetermined position to facilitate said fold completing operation, and means for folding the end flaps and top member of said outer receptacle and the 'correspondingflaps of said liner over the top of said contents to close the packa e and incidentally to form a substantially impervious inner enclosure for said contents.

7. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprlsing an outer receptacle provided with end'fiaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advancing a plurality of said packages in a row step-by step, simultaneously operative means for effecting partial folding of the front flap of said liner of one package and substantially completing the folding of the front flap of the liner of another package, vertically movable means for holding said top member in predetermined position to facilitate said fold completing operation, cam means for actuating said holding means, and means for folding the end flaps and top member of said outer receptacle and the corresponding flaps of said liner over the top of said contents to close thepackage and incidentally to form a substantially lmpervious inner enclosure for said contents. I

8. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flap and a top member, and a, liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner means for advancing a plurality of said packages in a row step b step, simultaneously 0 erative means for e ecting partial folding of the front flap of said liner of one ackage and substantially completing the folding of the front flap of the liner of another package, vertically and laterally movable means for holding said to member in predetermined position to facihtate said fold completing operation, means for effecting vertical movement of said holding means to cause the same to overlap the inside of said top member, cam means for effecting lateral movement of said holding means to cause the same to bend said top member to said predetermined position, and means for folding the end flaps and top member of said outer receptacle and the corresponding flaps of said liner over the top of said c0ntents to close the packa e and incidentally to form a substantlally impervious inner enclosure for said contents.

9. Ina machine .for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps and aftop member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, means for advancing step by step a plurality of filled packages arranged in a row, a pivotally mounted folder for folding the front wall flap of said liner over the top of the contents of the package, means for oscillating said folder to effect said folding operation during aperiod of rest of the packages, means operable as an incident to the operation of said pivoted folder for effecting partial folding of the front flap of a following package, vertically reciprocable and laterally movable means for engaging said top member and the corresponding flap of said liner and holding the same in predetermined position to facilitate the folding of said front flap by said pivoted folder, cam means for effecting vertical reciprocation of said holding mean-s to cause the same to overlap the inside of said 'top member and flap, spring and cam means for effecting said lateral adjustment of said holding means for causing the same to bend said top member and fiap to said predetermined position, and means for subsequently effecting folding of the end flaps and top member of said outer receptacle and the corresponding liner flaps over the top of said contents to thereby close said package and ininner enclosure for said contents.

10.. In a machine for closing 'filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps cidentally form a substantially impervious and a top member, and a liner of sheet material in said receptacle, provided with flaps projecting from each wall of the liner, a pair of conveyors disposed in longitudinally offset relation to each other, one of said conveyors being adapted to receive packages from the other and being intermittently actuated for advancing said packages step by step, means for effecting preliminary flap folding operations on the packages while on the first .conveyor, means for feeding the packages one by one from the first conveyor to said intermittently actuated receiving conveyor, and means for completing the flap foldin operations on said packages while on sai receiving conveyor.

11. In a machine for closing filled packages of material, said packages comprising an outer receptacle provided with end flaps and a top member, and a liner of sheet material incident to the operation of said reciprocating feeding means for effecting initial folding operations on the front wall flaps of the liners of packages on said feeding conveyor,-

and means associated with said receiving conveyor for completing the folding of the flaps and top member of said outer receptacle and liner to close the package and incidentally to form a substantially impervious inner enclosure for the contents of the package.

NORMAN KRAFT. 

